The secret’s out: There’s a new ramen restaurant on Hilton Head’s south end
On Valentine’s Day, when the restaurant industry typically pulls out all the stops to cater to lovers, one Hilton Head chef offered a quiet gift to his fellow locals on Hilton Head Island.
Alex Vitto, who opened Al’s Aloha Kitchen on the south end of the island about three years ago, launched a new “Asian-island fusion” restaurant called Nood on the holiday in Coligny Plaza with little fanfare and a reliance on word of mouth.
“We just wanted to test and see what sort of response that would be,” Vitto said.
So far, it appears his message is gaining traction, assisted by luscious photos showing the shop’s handmade ramen noodle bowls on social media.
Abby Wirth, who lives in Hilton Head Plantation, said she found out about Nood from friends who had eaten there and stopped by with her teen son.
“It was delicious,” she said. “The ramen was so good.”
That sentiment was echoed by Cameron Pratt of Hilton Head, a server at Hudson’s, who ate at Nood one afternoon earlier this week and posted a photo on Instagram. He had ramen with kimchi, a soft-boiled egg, bok choy and tempura fried shrimp. On the side, he added rice cakes in a Gochujung sauce.
“Both of which were really delicious and pretty impossible to find anywhere on the island like this,” Pratt said.
Beginnings
Vitto grew up on Hilton Head and worked first in his family’s Italian restaurant and then in a string of others that add up to nearly two decades of experience in the industry. In the middle of that, a few years living and working with his wife Tori’s family at Sunset Suratt Surf Academy in Hawaii gave the couple inspiration first for Al’s Aloha Kitchen and then for Nood.
“We came up with this concept because noodles were another staple that we enjoyed from when we lived on the north shore of Oahu,” Vitto explained.
After a chance meeting with Hilton Head chef Robert Colson, who became known for his expertise with pasta at Micheal Anthony’s Cucina Italiana, the idea gained steam.
When the space opened up at Coligny after Lucky Rooster Market Street closed in the fall, Vitto said he couldn’t resist trying out the new concept on Hilton Head with Colson as chef.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Vitto said, explaining that he grew up eating at the original Market Street Cafe and feels a lot of nostalgia toward the location.
And while Coligny Plaza tends to be taken over by tourists during the summer season, Vitto says restaurants can’t survive without local support.
“We still want to be able to cater to them in the summertime,” he said.
The menu
The Nood menu will change periodically and likely will be streamlined to handle larger crowds quickly, Vitto said, but for now, he’s “pulling out all the stops for our locals.”
Customers have free rein to customize their ramen. Choices include four types of noodles and two types of broth, along with three toppings from more than a dozen options for $8. Adding a protein like pork belly, tofu or tempura shrimp costs $3 more.
The menu also includes salads and a “Finger Nood” list that offers chicken or beef teriyaki skewers ($9) or fried pork or vegetable dumplings ($8) among the selections.
“Gourmet food in a fun, fast counter-service setting is kind of tuning in to the future,” Vitto said. “We want to be slightly more health-oriented and offer a gourmet-quality meal at an affordable price.”
Al’s Aloha Kitchen is takeout-oriented and offers online ordering, and that’s given the restaurant an edge in a time when many are uncomfortable dining in because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Vitto hopes the same applies to Nood. While online ordering is not yet available for the newer restaurant, it’s in the works.
Bluffton location
Once Nood is up and running, Vitto said he’ll turn his attention to finding space for a second location of Al’s Aloha Kitchen in Bluffton.
Customers who enjoy Al’s custom poke bowls, fruit bowls, juices and smoothies also will be able to order hats, socks, masks and T-shirts through an online store in the coming weeks.
“I don’t want to stop. I have a few other more original ideas,” Vitto said.
The father of two who worked his way up from dishwasher to restaurant owner said he’s still constantly trying to grow and evolve.
“There’s no right or wrong way to do this,” he said. “I’m flying by the seat of my pants most of the time. “
If you go
What: Nood Good Mood Food
Where: 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Suite 1B, Hilton Head (in Coligny Plaza)
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Phone: 843-715-9224
Facebook: facebook.com/noodgoodmoodfood
Website: noodhhi.com
